Car-truck.



P. STBFPBNS,

CAR TRUCK.

APPLIGA'LION FILED OCT. 3, 1913.

Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

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F. STEPFBNS.

GAR TRUCK.

APPLIGATION FILED 001 s, 1913 3 SHEETS- ABET 2 J/VVENTOR. W

Patented Mar. 3. 1914.

Maw

ATTORNEY.

FRED STEFFENS, OF ST. JGSIEPH, MISSOURI.

GAR-

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, FRED S'rnrrnus, a citizen of the United States, residing St. Joseph, in the county of Buchanan and State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in. Car Trucks, of which the ,following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in car trucks.

The object of my invention is to provide a novel construction of ca 1: truck which, while permitting the employment or" a long wheel base, permits the truck to readily turn sharp curves in a truck.

My invention provides further novel means for automatically bringing the axle and wheels into their proper positims relative to the car body after turning a curve.

My invention is particularly adapted to single radial axial truer construction.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the preferred form of my inven tion, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved truck mechanism. Fig. 2 is a cross section. on the line a of Fig. 3. 3 is a side elevation oil: a. portion of a car body which is mounted on a truck mechanism embodying my imymovements. d is an end elevation of one of the equalizing mech anisms, enlarged. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of portions of one of the trucks. Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional View on the line c-d of Fig. 1. 7 is an enlarged fragmcntal view of portions of one of the trucks shown partly in plan and partly in horizontal section. the line e-f of Fi 7. Fig. 9 is a horizontal section on the line r /iof Fig. 6.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the different views.

1 designates the sills of a car body having secured. to their under sides longitudinal plates 2 to which are secured downwardly extending brackets which rest upon vertical coil springs 4: which are supported-by brackets 5 having upwardly extending right angled portions which are slidably engaged by the brackets 3, and which serve to .prevent lateral movement of the car body relative to the car body supporting frame 6 which supports the brackets 5.

7 designates the car wheel axles, of which there are one for each truck.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 3 l 1g. 8 is a section on 8 designates the ordinary journal. boxes which are mounted on the axles 7.

Two trucks are shown supporting the car body. As these are alike in construction a description of one truck will answer for each.

The box 8 is clamped between substantially horizontal upper and lower members 9 and 10, there being two of each of these members for each-truck, said members helug arcuate in plan view, the center of the arcs being the point A, Fig. 1, which is also the middle point of the axis of the axle 7. Two "5' bars ll are secured to the ends of one member 10 and extend transversely across and are secured to corresponding ends respectively of the other member 10 of the truck. The members 9 and 10 and the T bars 11 term. the lower truck frame upon which are supported vertical coil. springs 12 which support an upper truck frame composcd'oit the following described parts. Two substan ia'lly horizontal members 13, which are arcuate in form as viewed from above, the center of the arc-s being the point A in Fig. 1, are each provided with an inverted U shaped middle portion 14 the arms of which rcsper ively vertically slidably embrace the ad acent box 8. The arms of the middle portion 14 are bifurcated and em-- brace opposite edges of the adjacent mem her 9 of the lower truck frame. One set of ends of the members 13 are respectively secured to the ends of a transverse angle bar The opposite or inner ends of the two members 13 are respectively secured to a horizontal transverse arcuate angle bar 16, the ends of which are also secured to the ends of a straight transverse angle bar 17. Each member 13 at opposite sides of the axle 8 is provided, as shown in Fig. 3, with concavously curved runways 18 on which are respectively mounted rollers 19 adapted normally to rest in thelowest portions of the runways, but which are adapted when the trucks are turning a curve to run up the runways, gravity tending to return the rollers to the lowest positions when the car wheelv again run upon a. straight track.

The supporting rollers 19 respectively form parts of hangersQO with which the frame 6 is provided. These hangers are constructed alike, one being shown in Fig. 8, and comprises each two vertical plates 20, the lower ends of which are secured to the Patented lllar. 3, 1914.. 1913. Serial No. 793,148.

$5 base may be provided frame 6, a horizontal pivot bolt-21 extending through and secured to the plates adjacent to the upper ends thereof, and a roller 19 rotatively mounted on said bolt. The plates 20 are disposed at opposite sides of the adjacent member 18 and thereby serve guides for said member. Preferably each member 13 is provided with longitudinal slots 22 in which run peripheral flanges respectively provided respectively on the peripheries of the rollers 19. These flanges serve to cut dirt or'grease which may accumulate on the upper sides of the curved runways 18, and by running in the curved slots 2-2, the flanges 23 also serve to guide the members 13.- i s shown in Fig. 8, the slots bridge portion 2% members 13.

To assure the prompt return to the proper position, after turning a curve, of the axles 7,1 provide each truck with supplemental spring actuated mechanism comprising the following described parts: Referring to Figs.

to afiord strength to the 1 and 6, and 25 are cross bars, the latter being secured to brackets 5. 26 is a bracket secured to the bars 25 and 25". and having pivoted to it, by a vertical pin 28,1: horizontal lever 27 one end of which is bifurcated and embraces a vertical bolt 28, which is secured in a horizontal plate 29 secured to the up of the upper truck frame. other end of the lever 27 rollers 30 against which two leaf springs 31 which Mounted on the are two friction respectively bear are secured to-the angle bar 25 and press toward each other, thereby resisting movement of the lever 2'? from the central position shown in Fig. 1. After the car wheels have turned a curve in the track are on a straight track, the springs 31 assist the hanger rollers 19 returning the axle and car wheels to their proper position relative to frame 6.

secured to the angle bar is a guide member 32 having a curved slot- 33 located in an arc the center of which is the vertical line which intersects the middle of the axis of the adjacent axle T. In the slot 33 is slidably mounted a block 3 which is mounted on inwardly extending flanges A horizontal longitudinally slotted plate 36 is mounted on top of the. guide member 32 to retain the block 34 in the slot 33. The plate 36 is provided with a longitudinal curved slot 87 through which extends a vertical pin 8, the upper end of which is secured in a block 39 which is secured to the arcuate bar 16, the lower end of the pin 38 extending through a bracket 40 which is secured at its upper end to the angle plate 1'7. By the employment of a single radial axle in each truck constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention, a long wheel and sharp curves in 22 may each be crossed by a middle oer side of the adjac nt'curved bar 16.

the track readily turned. In going up or down grades the springs 31 insure the proper positioning of the axle relative to the frame 6 in case that the rollers 19 running on the runways 18 did not efiect this function.

While I have shown the frame 6 as connecting two trucks, if desired the portion of the frame 6 between the lines o w and 053/, Fig. 3, may be eliminated, and the frame 6 thus resolved into two separate frames which are respectively connected to the two trucks. I do not limit my invention to the structures shown and described, as modifications within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a car truck, a car axle, a lower frame, a'truclrframe, boxes on the axle, springs supported by the boxes and supporting the truck frame, the lower frame having hangers supported by and adapted to travel in a circle upon said truck frame, a car body, and means supported by the lower frame for supporting the car body.

- frame and axle tofapredetermined position when they have been swung in either direction past said position. 1

3. In a car truck, .a car axle, boxes on said axle, a truck frame revoluble in a'horizontal plane with the axle, springs supported by the boxes and supporting the truck frame, a lower frame having hangers supported by and adapted to travel in a circle on the truck frame, a car body, means carried by said lower frame for supporting the car body, and spring actuated means for returning the truck frame to a predetermined position when it has been swung in either direction past said position.

4. In a car truck, a car axle, boxes on said axle, a lower truck frame supported by said boxes, springs supported by said lower'truck frame, an upper truck framasupportd by said springs and revoluble in a, horizontal plane ,with said axle, and a car body supporting-frame having hangers supported by and adapted to travel in'a circle upon the upper truck frame. M

5. In a car truck, a er axle,'b0xes on said axle, a lower truck boxes, springs supported by said lower truck frame,

frame supported by said an HEP-6; truck frame supported byfilio I axle, a lower truck plane with said axle mined position.

' said axle,

upon said runways, and

said springs and revoluble in a horizontal and having concavously curved runways at opposite sides of said axle, and a car body supporting frame having hanger." supported by and adapted to travel on said runways.

6. In a car truck, a car axle, boxes on said frame supported by said orted by said lower trucl' boxes, springs supp frame,- anupper truck frame supported by the axle in a horizontal plane and having conca-vously curved runways disposed in a circle at opposite sides of the axle, and a car body sup-- said springs and revoluble with porting frame havinghangers supported by and adapted to travel respectively on said runways.

7. In a car truck, a car axle, boxes on said axle, a truck frame supportedby said boxes,

3. second truck frame, means supported by the firsttruck frame for supporting the sec- 0nd, a car body supporting frame having hangers supported by and adapted to run in a'circle on the second truck frame, and yielding means for resisting the swinging of the second truck frame'from a predeter- 8. Ina car truck,.a car axle, boxes on said axle, a truck frame-supported by said boxe a second truck frame having concavously curved runways at opposite sides of said axle, means supported by the first truck frame'for supporting the second, and a car bodysupportingframe having hangers respectively supported by and; adapted to travel-on said runways.

9. Ina car truck, a caraxle, boxes on said axle, a truck frame revoluble in a horizontal plane with sald' axle, means supported by 'said boxes for supporting said truck frame,

a car body supporting frame having hangers disposed atopposite sides of said axle and supported by and adapted totravcl upon said truck frame, and yielding means for resisting revoluble movement in either direc ,tion of the truck frame relative to the car body supporting frame.

10. In a car truck, a car axle, boxes on said axle,- a' truck frame revoluble with the axle in a horizontal plane, the truck frame' having concavously curved runways at opposite sides of said axle, means supported by said boxes for supporting said truck frame, and a car body supporting frame having hangers respectively supported by and adapted to travel upon said runways.

11. In a car truck, a car axle, boxes on a truck frame revoluble in a horizontalplane with said axle and having concavously curved runways at opposite sides of said axle, means supported by the boxes for supporting said truck frame, a car body supporting frame having hangers respec- ,t-ivelysupported by and adapted to travel spring actuated means for-resisting revoluble movement in said axle, a truck frame revoluble in a horiported by said boxes and zontal plane with said axle and ha ring concavously curved runways at opposite sides of said axle, means supported by the boxes for supporting supporting frame having supporting rollers respectively supported by and. adapted to run on said runways, and spring actuated means for resisting revoluble movement in either direction of the truck frame relative to the car body-supporting frame, l l-pIn a car truck, a rar ztxle, boxes on said axle, a truck frame revoluble ina horizontal plane with said axle and having conoavously curved runways disposed in a circle at opposite sides of said axle, means su'p-. ported by the boxes for supporting the truck frame, and acar bod supporting frame having supporting rollers respectively carried. by and adaptedtorun on said runways, 15. In a car truck, a car axle, boxes on said axle, a truck frame revoluble in a horizontal plane with said axle and having con cavously curved runways disposed at opposite sides of the axle, means supported by the boxes for supporting the truck frame, a car body, springs supporting the car body, and a frame supporting said springs and having supporting rollers respectively mounted on said runways. 16. In a car truck, a car axle, boxes on, said axle, a truck frame revoluble in a horizontal plane with said axle and having roucavously curved runways at opposite sides 'aid truck frame, a car body-- of said axle, means supported by said boxes said axle, a truck frame revoluble'in a horizontal plane with said axle and having con eavously curved runways at opposite sides of said axle, means including springs supsupporting' said frame, a car body, springs supporting the car body, and a fran'ie supporting the last named springs and, having supporting members respiwtivoly supported by and adapted to run on said runways.

18. In a car truck, a car axle, boxes (in truck 17. In a car truck, a car axle, boxes on said axle, a truck frame revoiuble in a horizontal plane with said axle and having concavously curved runways at opposite sides of the axle, a second truck frame supported by said boxes, springs supported by the second truck frame and supporting the first truck frame, a car body, springs supporting said our body, and a frame supporting the last named springs and having supporting members respectively mounted upon and it" adapted to run on said runways.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, I). G. 

